>>528787856
>>528789276
>R&D costs
Failed to consider that, I concede. However I still maintain that if they had been willing to pay those costs, and spend some years fixing those flaws, the resulting aircraft could have been better. Sure it's not a quick and convenient solution but it seems practical and effective for interdiction/strike role, would no-doubt be appealing to export customers, and most importantly, it looks so damn cool.
I just want to live in a world where my country doesn't have to burden our birds with CFTs, they look so sad.